Hollywood
Films Division complex can become a hub for Indian cinema: Mukesh Sharma
NEW DELHI: Actor Jackie Shroff – the brand ambassador of the Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, short and animation films – could not have a better 59th birthday.
After attending an Animation Workshop and between eating pieces of cake, Jackie gushed: “You know, I spent my birthday today attending a class in animation filmmaking by Italian filmmaker Luca Rafaelli and India’s Dhwani Desai.”
Shroff was addressing a mid-fest press meet yesterday with Festival Director Mukesh Sharma who had surprised him with a birthday cake. The Press Information Bureau which put up the Media Centre also gave him a separate cake.
Speaking at the press meet, Sharma said that he was convinced that the festival could do with several changes but he would consider these after the Festival was over. “There is always scope for improvement,” he added.
Sharma said there were several impediments but he and his team overcame these one by one. He said with the Museum of Indian Cinema getting ready by the next MIFF, the Films Division complex could become a very good hub of cinema.
The simultaneous screenings of national films as part of the MIFF Zone in nineteen cities had been very encouraging. He would also explore starting the weekly FD Zone in Delhi.
He said in answer to a question that Prasar Bharati had assured him about considering the suggestion for a separate documentary
Shroff said the Festival had been a learning for him. Animation was very close to his heart and he had seen several good films at the Festival. He wanted filmmakers to work towards oneness.
He also felt MIFF should be an annual Festival and not come every two years.
Hollywood
Disney sells out ad slots for 98th Oscars broadcast
Strong demand for live events turns the Academy Awards into a global, multi-platform marketing moment
NEW YORK: Hollywood’s biggest night has also become one of advertising’s hottest tickets. Disney has sold out all advertising inventory for the 98th Oscars, underscoring the growing demand from brands eager to ride the cultural wave of major live events.
The sell-out marks the sixth consecutive live tentpole success for Disney Advertising. The streak includes last year’s 97th Oscars, the 59th Annual CMA Awards, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, signalling strong appetite among marketers for moments that bring audiences together in real time.
For advertisers, the Oscars are no longer just a single night of glitz and gold statues. Disney’s “Content Everywhere” strategy has expanded the awards show into a sprawling, multi-platform brand playground spanning linear television, streaming, social media and digital content.
“Live continues to be one of the most powerful ways for brands to connect with engaged audiences at scale, and the Oscars represent the very best of culture, creativity and community,” said Disney Advertising SVP, entertainment and streaming solutions John Campbell. He added that the company has reshaped the show’s commercial potential into a connected experience that stretches well beyond the broadcast.
Brands such as Mazda, Pfizer and Volkswagen of America are tapping into Disney’s wider ecosystem, appearing across original content segments including Know Your Movies on Hulu and Critically Acclaimed on Disney+. Partnerships also extend to social media through TikTok Pulse Premiere and to custom brand storytelling created by Disney CreativeWorks.
The result is what Disney calls the “Oscars Everywhere” approach. Rather than a few high-profile ad breaks, advertisers now find themselves woven through a series of moments before, during and after the ceremony.
These include On The Red Carpet at The Oscars, a live pre-show syndicated across major local markets and streamed nationwide, and the After the Oscars Show, which keeps the conversation going once the final award has been handed out.
This year’s sponsors include Rolex, returning for its ninth year, and Burger King, which joins the Oscars advertiser roster for the first time. Other brands in the mix include Disney Cruise Line, Dunkin’, Eli Lilly and Company, Eucerin, Intuit TurboTax, L’Oréal, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Miebo, Paris Baguette, Peacock, Starbucks, State Farm, Toyota and Verizon.
The 98th Oscars will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, reaching audiences in more than 200 territories worldwide.
